After the Portland Trail Blazers started out their latest road trip with a bang, beating the New York Knicks on New Year's Day, fans are finding themselves in a very positive mood to kick off the new year. In particular, Trail Blazers fans are thrilled with the fact the team is currently 16-14 and the No. 8 team in the Western Conference.

How good can they be come season's end? And, what sort of success does their future hold? That's the topic many Trail Blazers fans are discussing.

Here's a look at what you're saying about the Portland Trail Blazers at this conjuncture in the season:

What makes this time around sweeter is the Blazers have the last pieces to the starting lineup. Instead of having a SG playing "PG" (Roy), Lillard is the PG the Blazers desperately needed and Matthews is the work horse SG that's not afraid to get his hands dirty on 'D.' [Nicolas] Batum is [also] showing his worth on this team and in this league. Even on off-scoring nights, a glance at the rest of his stat line shows his isn't lathargic during his playing minutes.

I said this team would be more than a 30 something win team. Looking at where the Blazers are at now, it's looking like they will be above predictions. However, like the team during the Roy era, if they make playoffs, they might be a first round team again. The coaching will make the games closer, but the reoccurring problem from before is the bench. They are producing better as a whole, but there isn't a consistent go to player. ... I'm hoping [Neil] Olshey continues to show his GM savvy and pull off a trade for good assets for the offseason, or snag the relatively block buster in getting a sixth man that could push the Blazers over the hump.

I'd say it's virtually 100 percent that the Blazers do some sort of trade prior to the deadline. They may or may not do a big deal, but they will do some sort of deal. ... The great thing is the cost and challenge of acquiring NBA players rises exponentially with their talent. Thus, the hard part in putting together an NBA team is creating a nucleus of talented starters.

Guess what, the Blazers have succeeded at that!

It's a lot easier to get medium-caliber players. Acquire them as free agents if you have to. Blazers may not have to, they have a lot of young players with potential and some are starting to show some glimmer of hope.

I think the Blazers No. 1 personnel issue is going to be how to handle the Hickson situation. [Do they] try to keep him, even though you know you will have to pay him a lot? Try to do a sign and trade? What you don't want to see is him winding up snapped up by another team as a free agent next summer without the Blazers getting any benefit.

It was always baffling to me at the thought that the Blazers couldn't contend for a playoff spot and that we were a team bound for lottery again. Since the beginning of the season, I just thought that was poposterous. We have an all-star in Aldridge, we have very solid wings in Batum and Matthews who are coming into their own, [we] drafted a heckuva PG in Lillard and we have a coach who doesnt mind playing the young guys on the bench. I will continue to say we will make the playoffs and I believe we will not barely make it, but at least get a No. 6 seed. I love this Blazers squad. [It's going to] be an exciting ride.

goodenuff responds to Lil's point, giving a list of reasons why expectations were low for the Trail Blazers coming into the season:

It's unexpected because our starting PG is a rookie, we have no true center and our bench went weeks without getting into double figures ... combined. So, yes we are growing. Yes, I want them to go to the playoffs. But if we don't, I will not be surprised nor disappointed as long as we keep fighting with the true grit we've shown over the past few weeks.

No egotistical stars on this team!! Just hard working guys becoming something special. Last seasons purge was a blessing. The whole scene is superior to anything we've had in recent memory. Leaders everywhere you look, and mostly by action not verbage. Wes is our rah rah guy, Nic is the stat stuffing dynamo, LA is the quiet reserved smooth operator of the bunch, JJ just goes out and balls, and Lillard? The icy cold blooded gun slinger. Great teams stay together and continue to grow.

What do you see happening with this Trail Blazers squad the rest season? How about going into next season and beyond? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or continue the discussion in the Blazers Fan Forum.